Turn left from the Bruce Highway at Channon Street (Gympie Connection Road) and follow the signs to Tin Can Bay.
Tin Can Bay is about a 3 hour drive north of Brisbane. Take the Bruce Highway and on reaching Gympie, turn right onto Tin Can Bay road. The turnoff is well signposted a kilometre or so following entry into the 80kph speed limit zone.
If you are holidaying in the Brisbane area, you might like to give Dolphin Safaris a call on 1300 781 808.
Head west on Rainbow Beach Road for 34km and turn right at Tin Can Bay Road. Alternately, take the Dolphin Ferry Cruise from Carlo Point departing 7:20am daily - phone 0428 838 836 for bookings.
Follow Tin Can Bay Road all the way to Norman Point. The Barnacles Dolphin Centre and Cafe is located to the left of the boat launching ramp at Norman Point.
The human history of Tin Can Bay dates back to the 19th century when timber and fishing were the primary industries. Development of the township took off in the 1930s and the township now has a population of 2000 as at the 2006 census.
While there are differing versions of how the name Tin Can Bay came about, it is widely believed that it originated from the indigenous word Tuncunbar, the place of the Dugong, which was once widespread throughout the Sandy Straits.